Woolbeding landscapes walk
This is a gentle circular walk taking in wildlife, riverside views, and wide open landscapes.
Total steps: 8
Total steps: 8
Start point
Older Hill car park, grid ref: SU 8696 2603
Step 1
Facing the signboard, take the path to your right; cross a small track and follow beneath the line of pylons. Continue over the brow of the hill and descend 100m to where the paths meet.
Step 2
From the track junction, go left, then the first right, which heads down the valley – you're in heathland here, a mixture of bell heather, ling, and dwarf gorse. Continue to the fork, go right and continue downhill until you reach where another path crosses the way. There's a small shady pond tucked away to your right.
Step 3
Keep straight on down the valley, until you see a track. Just before this track, turn right up a narrow path between trees, and follow this path, which at the end bears left to rejoin the vehicle track to cross the lane.
Step 4
Look for the waymarker to your right, on the opposite side of the lane, then follow the footpath through the trees out into the open field. Continue along the hedgerow, then turn left at the style tucked away in the hedge and go downhill through the fields, going under the pylons and along the next field. At the bottom, turn right along Stedham Lane.
Step 5
Within 50m, to your left you'll see a waymarker pointing to a steeply descending path beside ancient beech trees. Head down the path to the bottom, by the river, where you'll find Stedham Mill and Ford. Keep this side of the River Rother, turn left and follow the riverside path. Continue, passing over a small wooden bridge, until you pass through a wooden gate, into a field.
Step 6
Before the end of the field, turn left at a wooden gate leading up into the woods. After a short climb, turn left and follow the woodland path. Continue past the steps to your left, which head back down to the river, and take the next right turn to the wooden gate. Cross the lane into the fields.
Step 7
Go along the path with the hedgerow to your left, turn right at the woods at the end of the field. Continue along the woodland edge. Go left, still by the woodland, and under the pylons. Turn right at the next field, then left and go up along the field edge towards Keeper's Cottage. Follow the footpath around the cottage, continue up the field, and at the gap in the hedge turn right up Eastshaw Lane. Continue up the lane onto Woolbeding Common. Continue straight up along the footpath for 1km. Just before a small car park, take the left turn downhill.
Step 8
Take the first footpath to your right through the heathland. Follow the path up across the open heath and into the woods. Once in the woods, continue till you meet a track; turn left downhill a little further until a waymarked narrow footpath on your right leading you down through the trees back to your starting point.
End point
Older Hill car park, grid ref: SU 8696 2603
Trail map
More near here
Woolbeding, River Rother and Midhurst walk
Enjoy this easy walk along the River Rother starting and returning to Midhurst's charming main street.
Get in touch
South Downs West Estate Yard, Linch Road, Woolbeding, West Sussex, GU29 0QB
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